JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An elderly woman said the kindness of one stranger helped make up for the bad deeds of three others who tried to steal her purse.

Gerrie Atkinson, 85, said as she walked into a Winn-Dixie in Arlington with her walker and her purse, she was greeted with a problem.

"When I go to the store, I don't expect three dudes to be standing there by the door and hear one say, 'I'll take this one,'" Atkinson said.

The three men were referring to Atkinson's purse, which they snatched from her walker before running off.

"Fortunately, a very nice young man who works in the Winn-Dixie saw them snatch my purse and he went running after them," Atkinson said.

As the grocery store employee chased the three purse snatchers, one of them dropped the purse.

The Good Samaritan was able to return it to Atkinson, who said she was very grateful.

"Absolutely, wouldn't you be if your guardian angel was there, because that's what he was," Atkinson said.

She said the last time someone grabbed her purse she didn't have a guardian angel.

"You know, the stupid thing is that's the second time that business of snatching my purse has happened to me," Atkinson said.

She said the first incident happened several years ago, before she ever needed a walker.

Atkinson said being the victim of a crime once again won't slow her down.

"That was yesterday. Today is today. Why worry about yesterday?" Atkinson said.

Police do not have any suspects in the purse snatching. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS.